Parachute



Aug. 4, 1931.

F. H. PACKARD 1,816,986

PARACHUTE Filed May 5, 1950 [nvenlor Hon arc? Panza/v A llorney Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PABACHUTE Application filed May 5,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in parachutes and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a'device of this character embodying inflatable means adapted to render the same buoyant for the purpose of supporting a person who has descended into a body of water.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a'parachute of the character described which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, eflicient in its use and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further ob- 16' jects and advantages of the invention may become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which The figure is a view in bottom perspective 20 showing the parachute constructed in accordance with this invention in operative position.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral 1 desig- 95 nates generally the body of a parachute comprising, as usual, the sections or lobes 2. The cords 3 are secured in the usual manner to the periphery of the body portion 1 and extend downwardly to a parachute harness 4 of any suitable construction.

All of the foregoing is conventional in parachute construction and form no part of this invention.

The invention comprises a plurality of pair of inflatable bags 5 which are secured on'the outer portions of certain of'the sections or lobes 2 of the body 1 of the parachute. The bags of each pair are spaced from each other the width of one section or lobe and said pairs of bags are disposed in circum forentially spaced relation around the body portion 1 of the parachute. The preferred method of constructing the bags 5 is by securing the marginal portion of a flat sheet of flexible material to the sections or lobes 2 and in this manner said sections or lobes constitute one side of the bags and the sheets constitute the other side of said bags. It is understood, of course, that the connection or joint between the sheets and the sections or 1930. Serial No. 449,948.

lobes 2 is air and water tight to prevent leakage of water thereinto or the escape of air therefrom. This may be accomplished in any approved manner. Communicating with each of the bags 5 is an inflating valve 6 and said valves may be of any desired type. Preferably, the valve6 projects from the peripheral ends of the bags in the manner clearly illustrated in the drawing.

In use, should the person using the para- 90 chute descend in a body of water, he has only to place one of the valves in his mouth and inflate the respective bags 5. He may then inflate the adjacent bags of that particular pair after which he may support himself on the intermediate section or lobe in which position the bags 5 which have been inflated will be disposed on opposite side of the body and function as water wings.

It is believed that the many advantages of a parachute constructed in accordance with this invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes 76 in the details of construction may be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Vhat is claimed is A parachute of the character described 80 comprising a series of radiating connected lobes, flexible substantially rectangular sheets mounted on certain of the lobes and having-their marginal portions connected thereto in a manner to provide a leak-proof joint therebetween, said sheets, in conjunction with the lobes, constituting bags for the reception of air, the side edges of the sheets being disposed flush with the longitudinal edges of the lobes upon which the sheets are mounted, said sheets being arran ed in spaced pairs, one of the lobes being disposed between the bags constituting each pair, and an inflating valve operatively connected with each of the bags.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANCTS HOWARD PACKARD. 

